Part II of Lesson 5
Freedom of Human Person
FREEDOM
∆The human capacity to act (or not to act) as we choose or prefer without any external compulsion or restraint.
∆ It is an intrinsic and essential property of a person.
∆Important indication of human freedom is the ability to MAKE CHOICES and PERFORM ACTIONS. Our freedom to act sets us apart from other beings.
Philosopher’s Perspective in line with Freedom
ARISTOTLE (The Power of Volition)
∆Volition in this sense is the faculty or power to use or discharge one’s will.
∆lf there were no intellect, there would be no will. The will of humanity is an instrument of free choice. It is within the power of everyone to be good or
bad, or worthy or worthless.
∆The happiness of every human being is in his own hands, to preserve and develop, or to cast away.
∆For Aristotle, a human being is rational. Reason is a divine characteristic. If there were no intellect, there would be no will.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (Freedom is spirituality and love)
∆Freedom, for St. Thomas, is the manner intellectual beings seek universal goodness. It is a condition of the will arising from our nature being
in the kind of world that we inhabit.
∆St. Thomas considers the human being as a moral agent.
∆Our spirituality separates us from animals; it delineates moral dimension of our fulfillment in an action. Through our spirituality, we have a
conscience. Whether we choose to be "good" or "evil" becomes our responsibility.
JEAN PAUL SARTRE (Individual Freedom)
∆Existentialism is a philosophical movement known for its inquiry on human existence, which means to exist”.
∆A For Sartre, the human person builds the road to the destiny of his/her choosing: he/she is the creator.
∆Sartre’s Existentialism stems from this Principle: existence precedes essences.— ( Human being is solely responsible for their actions because we
choose who we are)
∆A Sartre emphasizes the importance of free individual choice, regardless of the power of other people to influence and coerce our desires, beliefs, and
decisions.
∆Freedom means exercising our capacity to make decisions, change our life path and direct the course of our lives through our own steering.
∆Freedom is something that is exercised through our CHOICES
THOMAS HOBBES, JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU and JOHN LOCKE
(Theory of Social Contract)
∆Hobbes, Rousseau and Locke define the freedom of an individual in the context of having a government to rule them (contract), which is the basis of
notion of moral obligation and duty.
∆Social Contract- an agreement where individuals sacrifice an amount of their freedom and submit to a higher authority.
∆lt is a necessity that we must assure for the government and people to work as one. From this understanding also arises certainty that we have
freedom.
“Man is born free and everywhere he is chains”
— Jean Jacques Rousseau
KINDS OF FREEDOM
1.PHYSICAL FREEDOM
–refers to the absence of any PHYSICAL RESTRAINT. The person has the freedom of mobility to go where he/ she wants to go.
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL FREEDOM
–Also called as “freedom of choice”.
The person is free to perform actions that he/she considers right and wise. A person is also free to act or not to act.
Psychological freedom is INNATE and CANOT BE DENIED AS A PERSON.
Example:
1.Freedom to choose your friends
2.Freedom to choose your partner
3.Freedom to choose your course in college
4.Freedom to be what you want to be
3. MORAL FREEDOM
–Using freedom in a manner that upholds human dignity and goodness.
Example:
1.Doing charitable works
2. Participating on outreach activities
3.Being sensitive to the needs of other
4.Being prudent on the use of social media
5.Participating volunteer works.